I work with many children and families where the topic of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is very controversial. In many situations, parents need education about the condition, how to observe and cope with their children’s challenging behaviors. This process is usually completed with first a children’s mental health evaluation.
A few years ago, a program my county took part in a research project about children diagnosed with ADHD in which participants would be reevaluated after a period of time to see if their diagnosis was still valid. While the study was not very invasive because the children involved were between 7-9 years of age and understood both their diagnosis as well as the point of the project. They were given a brief explanation as to how observations would take place, and their parents identified unique qualities which could pose issues. The results ended up having very positive implications for the children and families involved because they confirmed some parents’ thoughts that ADHD is very over-diagnosed. As well as that when it is diagnosed, with medication, therapy, and good parent education, the condition is very manageable allowing children to have happy, healthy development. I agree with the article by File that many of the research I have observed with Head Start seemed also to have positive effects of the children who participated.
Research is a double-edged sword and thus a challenging issue. There are pros and cons of research when children are the participants. We as advocates have a responsibility to understand the research being done on the children we serve.
Reference:
File, N. (2008). When researchers come to your program. YC: Young Children, 63(5), 80–87. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Education Research Complete database.
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